Articles in This Issue
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
O c t o b e r 2 011 Now that I have handed the discussing these changes internally and engaging Presidency gavel off to my in external dialogue with many stakeholders to dear friend and colleague for understand how these changes might impact the the past twenty years at Save Associations implementation of its mission. That Barton Creek Association, understanding will enable SBCA to address, and Jackie Goodman, I appreciate benefit from, the many changes in the “landscape” the opportunity to update you of the Aquifer. Here are just a few examples. The on the state of the association, City of Austin Watershed Protection Department, which did not exist in 1979, now has almost 300 A few events occurred people evaluating projects, studying watershed last year that bring changes science, and acting daily to protect and conserve to the Save Barton Creek the long term interests of the Aquifer and the Association. Recently, environment in general. Hays County governments Shudde Fath turned over the financial records to our control development in two-thirds of the Barton new Treasurer, Kathy Smartt. For 30 years, Shudde Springs Zone. And in the “good news” department, kept meticulous records of every donation, kept the several organizations have formed to help protect mailing list updated, paid the Association’s bills and and preserve the waters of Barton Springs, such as prepared the financial statements. She is still going the Hill Country Conservancy, the Barton Springs strong in her 90s, and still attends most of the board Edwards Aquifer Conservation District; Envision meetings providing extraordinarily valuable insights Central Texas; the Friends of Barton Springs Pool, and institutional memory. We intend to digitize and the SOS Alliance. the trove of information in her fourteen file boxes accumulated during the past thirty years of daily So, as we consider these changes and many other financial management for SBCA. Thanks, Shudde! challenges and opportunities, we ask ourselves, “What is the most effective As Save Barton Creek Articles in this Issue role for the Save Barton Association moves into its Creek Association in the third decade(!) of existence, In Memorium 3 future?” A Transition the Board of Trustees is Committee comprised now actively engaged in a Barton Springs Pool Master Plan Update 6 of Jackie Goodman, comprehensive strategic Robin Cravey Mary Ann Neely, Donna analysis and planning Tiemann, Sarah Baker for the future. As always Barton Springs Salamander Status 8 Faust, and I, are working though, the Board is Laurie Dries to answer that question. committed to staying We will propose a “Going focused on the mission! Water flow from Blanco to Barton Springs 9 Forward” business plan to Times have changed and Nico Hauwert the Board of Trustees this spring. As you can imagine, the Save Barton Creek Austin’s Comprehensive Planning Process 11 Association is mindful the input the committee has of these changes. We are Donna Tieman Continued on Page 2 SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION, 1 SAVE received thus far from many stakeholders ranges from excitement to reserved concern for BARTON our venerable organization. CREEK One important aspect of this “Going Forward” plan is the Board’s commitment to hire the ASSOCIATION Association’s first full-time employee within the next few months. Stay tuned for updates on this crucial piece of our reorganization. OFFICERS AND Finally, let me list a few additional significant events that also occurred this year: Nico TRUSTEES FOR Hauwert, a hydrogeologist at the City of Austin and long-time “student” of the aquifer has 2010 - 2011 discovered that Barton Springs may receive recharge from the Blanco River (an abridged version of his findings is included in this newsletter). Also, there’s been a steep decline President: in the number of proposed development projects in the Barton Springs Zone and an Jackie Goodman increase in projects elsewhere. The Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation District published “Desired Future Conditions” and “Sustainable Yields” report. The Travis County Vice President: Commissioners enacted Temporary Suspension on Development Permits over the Trinity Jon Beall Aquifer; and, the City of Austin Watershed Protection Department implemented significant Vice Presdent initiatives to protect the environment in the Desired Development Zone. Donna Tiemann As you can see, SBCA pursues its mission in a busy and ever-changing world. Many Secretary: battles remain in the never-ending fight to protect and conserver the waters, flora and fauna of Barton Creek, Barton Springs and the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer, but we Steve Beers have many allies and we are heartened by their support. Treasurer: Regardless of whether you are life-long member or perhaps this is the first SBCA Newsletter Kathy Smartt you’ve ever read, I ask you, I urge you, I entreat you – to please renew your commitment Treasurer Emeritus: to the “Heart and Soul” of Austin – Barton Springs – today. Visit savebartoncreek.org to make a tax-deductible, charitable contribution so that the life force of Barton Springs will Shudde Fath indeed be Eternal! Board Members: On behalf of the SBCA Board of Trustees, I wish you and your family a healthy holiday Roger Baker season. Paul Bergman Harold Daniel Sarah Baker Faust Jack Goodman Jon Beall Dick Kallerman Past President Mary Ann Neely Craig Smith Join Us Pam Thompson We meet the 2nd and 4th Save Barton Creek Association Rachel Turner monday Membership Susan Wall every month Lifetime Associates $1,000 Roy Waley Patrons $500 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sustainers $250 Casa Garcia’s Mexican Restaurant Friends $100 Donors $50 1000 South Lamar Boulevard Families $15 Individuals $10 Phone (512) 851-8684 Students/Retirees $5 Please join us for good You may sign up online at www.savebartoncreek.org/join.asp or send conversation and the latest your donation to PO Box 5923, Austin, TX 78763. updates on Barton Springs issues! Thank you! SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION, 2 SAVE BARTON CREEK ASSOCIATION, 3 Blanco River Recharges Barton Springs During Drought Nico Hauwerta, Brian Huntb, Marcus Garyc, Steve Johnsond The Blanco River appears to be an important information, we infer that Onion Creek serves as source of recharge for Barton Springs during times the southern-most divide for Barton Springs’ source of drought, as demonstrated by recent groundwater area under certain high-flow conditions, and that tracing. This exciting new finding gives scientists a the Blanco River does not contribute significantly to better understanding of how flows at Barton Springs Barton Springs during those conditions. The recharge are sustained during drought conditions. rate of Onion Creek is several times higher than the recharge rate of the Blanco River when Onion Creek Between May 2008 and February 2009, fluorescent is flowing and its recharge may overwhelm some dye injected in the Blanco River watershed was of the groundwater flow paths to Barton Springs, detected at Barton Springs. The tracers also showed diverting some Onion Creek recharge to San Marcos up in wells in the Mountain City and Ruby Ranch Springs. Assuming that the Blanco River contributes areas, in addition to wells south of the Blanco River to Barton Springs only during low-flow conditions toward San Marcos Springs (Figure 1). These tracer the overall contribution of Blanco River recharge to injections targeted lower-flow drought conditions, Barton Springs is initially estimated to be only about ie., below average flow rate for Barton Springs of 4% on average. about 50 cubic feet per second (cfs). During low- flow conditions in 2009, groundwater flow rates However, during drought conditions the through the Edwards Aquifer to Barton Springs percentage of contribution to recharge could be decreased substantially compared to the 3-day much higher. This concept is illustrated by Figure travel time from nearby Onion Creek measured in 4, which shows Barton Springs discharge receding 2005, under high-flow conditions. Tracers from the rapidly but then stabilizing as it approaches the Blanco River generally took about three months to corresponding recharge of the Blanco River. Thus, arrive at Barton Springs during the 2008 to 2009 it appears that the Blanco River might be directly traces (Figures 2 and 3). The Edwards Aquifer sustaining a significant portion of Barton Springs Authority is preparing a report in conjunction with flow under drought conditions. Note that after the Barton Springs/Edwards Aquifer Conservation the last Blanco River tracer injection in February District, Zara Environmental, and the City of Austin 2009, on several dates between July and September to describe the Blanco River groundwater tracing 2009, Barton Springs flow declined to only 13 study and its results in detail. cfs. This flow was the lowest for Barton Springs recorded since the drought of record in the 1950s, Initial estimates indicate an overall small when it declined to 9.6 cfs. Under 2009 drought contribution of the Blanco River to Barton Springs, conditions, as well as during the drought of the however, the Blanco River could be Barton Springs’ 1950s, the Blanco River continuously flowed at the largest sustaining source of recharge during drought upstream edge of the Recharge Zone, due to a very conditions when flow is most critical to Barton large watershed area and persistent springflow from Springs. Tracers injected in caves on the channel of the Trinity Aquifer. Since the major contributing Onion Creek under high-flow conditions of 2005 creeks (Barton, Williamson, Slaughter, Bear, Little were detected within 3 days at Barton Springs, and Bear, and Onion) were generally dry during these later at San Marcos Springs. Under slightly lower drought intervals, the Blanco River contribution flow conditions of 2002, tracer injections in Onion helps explain why Barton Springs flow sustains Creek were not detected in San Marcos Springs, during drought periods.